Hah! Finished before the deadline, though barely.
Thank you librarians for this great course. I learned a lot and look forward to the next 8 Things!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Thing 8: References
This is a "thing" that I wish I had had a long time ago. I would have saved lots of trees and lots of time keeping things filed.
I set up a RefWorks account several weeks ago, when the librarians first talked about it in their blog. I really like it. Most journals have an button and it works very well. I wouldn't say that it is easy to learn, but once you have the basics, it is good. The down side, is that if the online journal doesn't have a RefWorks button, it is more of a hassle to enter. The other downside, is that it is a paid subscription and I don't want to think about what it might cost me if the library ceases to pay for it.
For this thing, I also set up a Zotero account. This might rival Refworks for keeping track of varied information. It is easy to save websites, and other types of references, such as newpaper and magazine articles that are not in the usual medical reference format. It is nice to have a button in the URL to 'click and save". It is also free. And their April 1 post says that they are going to support other browsers soon.
I'm going to have to make a decision soon. But I do like using these to keep track of papers. I am going to work on massively decreasing the files that I keep.
Time Spent: 3 hours.
I set up a RefWorks account several weeks ago, when the librarians first talked about it in their blog. I really like it. Most journals have an
For this thing, I also set up a Zotero account. This might rival Refworks for keeping track of varied information. It is easy to save websites, and other types of references, such as newpaper and magazine articles that are not in the usual medical reference format. It is nice to have a button in the URL to 'click and save". It is also free. And their April 1 post says that they are going to support other browsers soon.
I'm going to have to make a decision soon. But I do like using these to keep track of papers. I am going to work on massively decreasing the files that I keep.
Time Spent: 3 hours.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Thing 7: Collaboration Tools
I knew about Google Docs, but never really used it much, or explored the alternatives. These are great. I'm not sure that we will need software on our computers for this stuff much longer! Zoho and Google both do everything that I routinely use MSOffice for. And, since I use a number of different computers through the week, and both PC's :( and Macs :) this might be better.
I will have to see if they manage the PowerPoint translation. That is, can I build it on powerpoint for Mac and show it on powerpoint for PC. If it does this well, I'm completely sold!
Zoho Slide Show of the Phoenix Botanical Garden
Time spent: 2 hours
I will have to see if they manage the PowerPoint translation. That is, can I build it on powerpoint for Mac and show it on powerpoint for PC. If it does this well, I'm completely sold!
Zoho Slide Show of the Phoenix Botanical Garden
Time spent: 2 hours
Thing 6: Wikis
Of all the "things" so far, I think that wikis might be the most versatile tool yet. These started as pretty straight forward tools for collaboration. But it seems that you can build a fairly complete/complex website with these.
I am intrigued by the possibilities for using them for training and as a knowledge repository. Image an Epic Wiki that we could all use to add what we have learned as useful tricks and ask questions where the community could answer. This would be so much better than email chains. In fact, thinking specifically about how to use wikis to decrease internal email would be a useful project on it's own.
I built a wiki on wikispaces for a group project several months ago. The results have been mixed. Initially, I was the only one who posted info. (People would hand it to me at the meeting or send documents on email) It took weeks for all to get signed up as authors (one team member didn't do it until at a meeting, we logged on and walked her through it).
Now, there are team members who use many of the features when they post, others who write comments and edit and others who read, but no edits.
Has it been helpful? Well, there are no minutes to keep track of and that is great. All the info is available from anywhere, anytime you are connected to the internet. We get work done and reviewed between meetings.
We have added other interested people, who are not on the workgroup, as users on the wiki, though only 2 have posted. Others have been given the link, but it is hard to track if they are looking at it.
I will certainly use wikis again for projects. In fact, I have another one planned...
This time, I will add one of the tutorials on youtube, for people to use a place to start.
I will use the group to set up the initial wiki organization (so it makes sense to all, not just me).
And I will try another wiki host, maybe one that focuses on business collaboration.
And I'm going to keep cruising for examples on the web.
Or, better yet, just set up a workgroup of 8Thing graduates!
Time spent: 3 hours
I am intrigued by the possibilities for using them for training and as a knowledge repository. Image an Epic Wiki that we could all use to add what we have learned as useful tricks and ask questions where the community could answer. This would be so much better than email chains. In fact, thinking specifically about how to use wikis to decrease internal email would be a useful project on it's own.
I built a wiki on wikispaces for a group project several months ago. The results have been mixed. Initially, I was the only one who posted info. (People would hand it to me at the meeting or send documents on email) It took weeks for all to get signed up as authors (one team member didn't do it until at a meeting, we logged on and walked her through it).
Now, there are team members who use many of the features when they post, others who write comments and edit and others who read, but no edits.
Has it been helpful? Well, there are no minutes to keep track of and that is great. All the info is available from anywhere, anytime you are connected to the internet. We get work done and reviewed between meetings.
We have added other interested people, who are not on the workgroup, as users on the wiki, though only 2 have posted. Others have been given the link, but it is hard to track if they are looking at it.
I will certainly use wikis again for projects. In fact, I have another one planned...
This time, I will add one of the tutorials on youtube, for people to use a place to start.
I will use the group to set up the initial wiki organization (so it makes sense to all, not just me).
And I will try another wiki host, maybe one that focuses on business collaboration.
And I'm going to keep cruising for examples on the web.
Or, better yet, just set up a workgroup of 8Thing graduates!
Time spent: 3 hours
Thing 5 continued: Podcasts
I can't separate podcasts from my iphone. (In fact, I can't separate from my iphone at all.)
There are many educational podcasts that I (virtuously) download with all the best intentions.
But when do I really listen to podcasts? While walking the treadmill at the communty center.
And what to I really listen to? Wait, wait, don't tell me-from NPR. Peter Sagal and crew really help the time to pass quickly and the entire show is just the right length.
My husband listens to the medical podcasts-and I can usually get him to tell me the highlights of this week's NEJM. Best of both worlds!
The big challenge with listening to humor on your iphone while exercising, is to not laugh outloud. You can get strange looks from the person on the stairmaster next to you;).
Time spent: 1 hour
There are many educational podcasts that I (virtuously) download with all the best intentions.
But when do I really listen to podcasts? While walking the treadmill at the communty center.
And what to I really listen to? Wait, wait, don't tell me-from NPR. Peter Sagal and crew really help the time to pass quickly and the entire show is just the right length.
My husband listens to the medical podcasts-and I can usually get him to tell me the highlights of this week's NEJM. Best of both worlds!
The big challenge with listening to humor on your iphone while exercising, is to not laugh outloud. You can get strange looks from the person on the stairmaster next to you;).
Time spent: 1 hour
Thing 5: Space the Final Frontier
The last shuttle mission to the Hubble Telescope is scheduled for May 12th. And I have a ticket to see it! Growing up in the space age, I have always been excited by man's adventures into space. I watched every launch on TV and still have the NASA widget on my computer to see what is going on in real time. (Where were you when man walked on the moon?)
The pictures that the Hubble has sent back are beautiful and inspiring and somehow make me feel that I am blessed to have a place in this universe.
Enjoy a more images, set to music from the Hubble Telescope.
Time spent: 1:30 (I think YouTube has everything.)
The pictures that the Hubble has sent back are beautiful and inspiring and somehow make me feel that I am blessed to have a place in this universe.
Enjoy a more images, set to music from the Hubble Telescope.
Time spent: 1:30 (I think YouTube has everything.)
Friday, March 27, 2009
Thing 4-Yummy
I moved my bookmarks to Delicious some time ago and find it much better than using computer based bookmarks. I use 4 different computers on a regular basis, so having my bookmarks available on all was the key reason for making the change.
I actually have 3 bookmark lists: my main list that I use for everything, a list of good patient information sites that I have on my blog for patients to use to know where to start a search to get credible info on the web, and one of medical images that I have on my exam room computers. That one has been a big time saver-and face saver. I once mistyped instead of in an image search and got images of a scantily clad lady named Ling. (No, I'm not putting in the link, you are on your own.)
I had not considered Stumble Upon as a social bookmarking site. It sits on my FireFox tool bar waiting for me to need a break and enticing me to explore. There are some truly amazing websites that people have built, just for the fun of it. Stumble here.
Library Thing is quite interesting. I've not decided if it is worth it to enter all the books in my library, but maybe. I did enter one fairly specialized book, and there were only 3 others with this book listed also. 2 of them had libraries that overlapped mine quite a bit and one had an eclectic library and a couple of books I would like to read.
So far, this has been the shortest Thing for me to finish-but only because I had done it before.
Time spent: 2:30
I actually have 3 bookmark lists: my main list that I use for everything, a list of good patient information sites that I have on my blog for patients to use to know where to start a search to get credible info on the web, and one of medical images that I have on my exam room computers. That one has been a big time saver-and face saver. I once mistyped
I had not considered Stumble Upon as a social bookmarking site. It sits on my FireFox tool bar waiting for me to need a break and enticing me to explore. There are some truly amazing websites that people have built, just for the fun of it. Stumble here.
Library Thing is quite interesting. I've not decided if it is worth it to enter all the books in my library, but maybe. I did enter one fairly specialized book, and there were only 3 others with this book listed also. 2 of them had libraries that overlapped mine quite a bit and one had an eclectic library and a couple of books I would like to read.
So far, this has been the shortest Thing for me to finish-but only because I had done it before.
Time spent: 2:30
Thing 3-RSS Feeds
Like many things on the web, this it TOTALLY addicting. How long did I spend on this? Hours. There are lots of interesting and potentially interesting people posting on the web.
I can't tell you the path I took to get to it, but I discovered the TED website (TED.com). The TED conference is an event that I know about, but never remembered to look up. Now it is on by Google Reader! I recommend the talk by Doris Kearns Goodwin about the importance of balancing work, love and play in building a fulfilling life. She uses examples from her books about LBJ and Lincoln (Team of Rivals). Click here to see the video.
So, not loosing track of things/people is one use for readers.
Another might be to cut down on email. Most days, I have over 100 emails on Outlook at work and another 50-100 in personal email accounts. If I can move some of these to feeds, it will be one more step in keeping email manageable!
Time spent: 3 hours
I can't tell you the path I took to get to it, but I discovered the TED website (TED.com). The TED conference is an event that I know about, but never remembered to look up. Now it is on by Google Reader! I recommend the talk by Doris Kearns Goodwin about the importance of balancing work, love and play in building a fulfilling life. She uses examples from her books about LBJ and Lincoln (Team of Rivals). Click here to see the video.
So, not loosing track of things/people is one use for readers.
Another might be to cut down on email. Most days, I have over 100 emails on Outlook at work and another 50-100 in personal email accounts. If I can move some of these to feeds, it will be one more step in keeping email manageable!
Time spent: 3 hours
Sunday, March 1, 2009
The Real Thing 1 and Thing 2!
Here are the REAL Thing 1 & Thing 2!!!Happy Birthday, Dr Seuss!
Mar 2, 1904-Sept 24, 1991Friday, February 27, 2009
Thing 2: Here Comes Everybody
I heard Clay Shirky speak at the Health 2.0 Conference in October, he is a great speaker with ideas that force you to rethink what you think you know. And he is good enough at flogging his book that I bought it. It is really quite good.
So just a taste for you from Chapter 8 about Meetup.com. This is a site where you register your location and your interests, that allows you to find groups that are meeting with the same interest-really meeting, in person, not virtually.
<-This links to a YouTube video that explains it well. 
So maybe we aren't really bowling alone!
Time spent: 2:30
So just a taste for you from Chapter 8 about Meetup.com. This is a site where you register your location and your interests, that allows you to find groups that are meeting with the same interest-really meeting, in person, not virtually.
<-This links to a YouTube video that explains it well. And here is a list of the Meetups in Minneapolis->
So maybe we aren't really bowling alone!
Time spent: 2:30
Thing 1:Blogging Sites
I've wandered through the free blog services that are listed and I would add one more: Wordpress.com. (.com, not .org) I particularly like their stats. You can easily see the number of readers per day and how they got to your site.
Now this can be a good thing and a not so good thing. It is easy to get too caught up in trying to get your numbers up, causing you to harrass your friends and relatives and to read your posts. Well, really, they don't even have to read it, just click on the site for it to 'count'.
On the other hand, looking at how readers got to my site taught me that using a clear title for your post is better than a cute title, if you want links.
And on the day I got over 100 hits (usually I get 0-15), it introduced me to a new site: alphainventions.com.
Here is what Cheru Jackson says about the site:
Time spent: 2 hours
Now this can be a good thing and a not so good thing. It is easy to get too caught up in trying to get your numbers up, causing you to harrass your friends and relatives and to read your posts. Well, really, they don't even have to read it, just click on the site for it to 'count'.
On the other hand, looking at how readers got to my site taught me that using a clear title for your post is better than a cute title, if you want links.
And on the day I got over 100 hits (usually I get 0-15), it introduced me to a new site: alphainventions.com.
Here is what Cheru Jackson says about the site:
If you update or publish your blog at the same time my visitors are browsing blogs in my site then my visitors will get a chance to see your blog in real-time. BAM! (the entire blog is in their face instantly) It’s not even annoying to watch. Is it alpha addicts??
I also provide a link to your blog in case they want it to open your blog in a new window, or bookmark your blog . The links provides your title, and description to help my visitors get a better understanding on what your blog is about, and get more interested. Alphainventions.com is useful for wordpress.com , typepad.com, spaces.live.com, and blogger.com I love it, and want to grow it like a tree. Yahh!
Warning: I think this site might be addicting.Time spent: 2 hours
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Delving Deeper
I have been following the librarian's Web 2.0 journey with interest for the last year. I have tried a number of the "Things" that they have written about.
My first blog-a family blog fizzled for lack of interest (mine and my sister's). It also lacked glitz.
My second blog is more focused and so far my interest hasn't lapsed. And it has more links, picture, videos, etc. It's tough though to get readers to comment, though.
I'm looking forward to more things to explore-but is 8 going to be enough? What happened to the other 15?
Time spent: 30 minutes
My first blog-a family blog fizzled for lack of interest (mine and my sister's). It also lacked glitz.
My second blog is more focused and so far my interest hasn't lapsed. And it has more links, picture, videos, etc. It's tough though to get readers to comment, though.
I'm looking forward to more things to explore-but is 8 going to be enough? What happened to the other 15?
Time spent: 30 minutes
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